A Coastguard rescue chopper from Lee-on-the-Solent was scrambled on Boxing Day evening to airlift a seriously ill patient to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham. The daring mission kicked off just after 7pm and involved coastguard teams from Newport and Portsmouth.
Boxing Day Drama in the Skies
With no ferries running between the Isle of Wight and the mainland, the rescue helicopter was the only option. Newport Coastguard crews managed the helicopter landing pad at St Mary’s Hospital, where the urgent pickup took place.
Race Against Time
- The patient was airlifted from St Mary’s with three medical staff onboard.
- Portsmouth Coastguard teams received the chopper at the Horsea landing site.
- The sick patient was swiftly transferred to a land ambulance for the final leg to Cosham hospital.
Coastguard Coordination Saves Lives
The entire rescue was expertly coordinated by the UK Coastguard operations centre in Fareham, showing how vital teamwork and quick action save lives in emergencies.
